Record-setting attendance for first Total Home & Gift Market of 2026

The January Total Home & Gift Market at Dallas Market Center welcomed record-setting attendance, with buyers arriving from across the U.S. and internationally, to be the first to see the newest products and showrooms. This resulted in the strongest January turnout in the last five years and signaled renewed confidence and momentum across the home and gift industry. “The energy on the floors this January was unmistakable,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Strong attendance showed a renewed sense of confidence, with engaged retailers ready to invest in new product for the year ahead.” Attendance at the show reflected year-over-year gains for every region of the U.S. as well as internationally. The number of buyers attending the show for the first time saw a dramatic increase of more than 70%, supporting the continuing shift in buyer loyalty to Dallas,

Event highlights

Beyond new product discovery, January’s market delivered standout programming designed to equip retailers for success. The Masters Series drew large crowds for live design demonstrations from Chris Norwood, John Mark Sharpe — who debuted his new ribbon collection with The Round Top Collection — and Presley Pierce, each sharing approachable styling techniques, merchandising strategies, and design insights retailers could take straight to the sales floor. Meanwhile, Speaking of Retail: A Collective of Conversations offered candid, business-focused discussions tackling the real-world challenges and opportunities facing both independent and multi-location retailers. Retailers also enjoyed the Fireside Chat with ARTS Awards finalists, Home Frontiers: Navigating the Future of Design, Retail, and Manufacturing, highlighting how key players collaborate and evolve, offering insight into trends, sustainability, retail strategy, and the forces shaping today’s home industry.

Attendance by buying groups, major retailers

Several high-volume buyers and key buying groups attended the show and walked the aisles to discover new products across gift and home categories inside permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits. Buying groups represented at the January market included Apricot Lane, ASTRA, Boutique Hub, Learning Express, Monograms America, the Museum Store Association, Purchasing Power Plus, Southwest Buying Group, Texas Parks & Wildlife, The Good Toy Group, Wild Birds Unlimited, and Zoo, Aquariums & Garden. Major retailers in attendance spanned national, regional, and specialty brands, including Army & Air Force Exchange, At Home, Belk, Boot Barn, Brookshire’s, Buc-ee’s, Buckle, Buff City Soap, Cavender’s, Choctaw Casino, Container Store, Dillard’s, Dollywood, Dry Goods, H-E-B, Hobby Lobby, Mardel, Michael’s, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Omni Hotels, Pottery Barn, Reasor’s, Scheels, Silver Dollar City, Stanley Korshak, TJX, Von Maur, WinStar Casino, and World Market.

36th ARTS Awards

Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, held the 36th ARTS Awards on Friday, Jan. 9, at the Hilton Anatole hotel, hosted by Thom Filicia and Carson Kressley. The ARTS Awards are the premier international awards program dedicated to home industry excellence and achievement. The ARTS Awards included category awards, as well as a special Academy of Achievement honor to the late John Feizy, founder of Feizy; the Legendary Leadership recognition to the late Bill Winsor; and the HEARTS Award presented to Heart on Main Street, honoring the support and education they provide to independent retailers. View the awards winners at dallasmarketcenter.com/artsawards/arts-winners-2026/.

Planning for upcoming markets

The next Total Home & Gift Market will run March 24-27 and runs concurrently with the Apparel & Accessories Market and KidsWorld. For more information, including hours and events, please visit the Dallas Market Center website. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center app.